Elect Clowns...Expect a Circus

 

First they oust McCarthy...then they say Scalise isn't extreme enough...Emmer lasted a record 4 hours before withdrawal...and currently Mike Johnson is "...in the barrel..."

WHO?

Yeah, I had to google him, too.

House Representative from Louisiana...election denier...wants no funding for Ukraine or Israel...Voted against abortion, same-sex-marriage...Trumper...

I've heard enough.

Not only no...but hell no!

Not going to get real worried, though...because

A.  Moderates probably won't vote for him.

B.  If they do...he will be gone in a year when we re-take the House...

C.  The Senate and President Biden will rein this guy in if he attempts to pass anything too crazy.

Got to love those checks and balances!

Off to start the day....

Sister's Day...Smurf Slaughter...Finnegan...Food & Football

 

Wonderful week and weekend!

Lisa was sick...and so Tina and I got together for October's
Sister Day...with  cornbread and beans and pumpkin desserts with caramel and cream cheese...and chat about life...politics...and love..and everything...she brought me one of her grown-on-the-farm pumpkins...and turned me on to this...

An air-fryer.

I LOVE deep fried foods...but am way too unsteady to use boiling oil anymore...enter a new way (for me) to get that deep fried taste, but much much safer!

We did the "test drive" with frozen Pumpkin Empanadas...in 10 minutes they were fully cooked...crisp and flaky with hot pumpkin filling.

From frozen uncooked dough!

IMPRESSIVE!!!

We drizzled plates with soft caramel and set them in the center

TAH DAH.

She gave me a cheat-sheet that showed what you could make....how it was to be prepped and how long at what temperature.

Later that evening, I would try potato wedges...which cooked to a crisp golden brown outside with light fluffy center in minutes.

Also realized how many things that can be made in an air-fryer...including potato chips!!!

Just like The Summer of Smoothies

...when I first got the Magic Bullet and blended all summer...

Now my shopping list criteria centers around what I can try to fix with an Air-Fryer.

Seriously, they ARE fairly amazing!

About the Smurf Crime Scene...

I blame Loretta.

...who, years ago, gave me matching fashion sense...which I had never had...
 

It all started with a turquoise blue turtleneck.

This one.

See that thumbnail which is exactly the same shade of polish as the shirt???

Yeah...that is how it all started...

In a rush to meet Kayleb for brunch...and running a bit behind (always)...I grabbed the recently purchased polish to match my sweater.

...actually I had  bought three different shades/bottles to match a tan sweater...a red one and this blue one...

I had already tried both the tan and the red out, and they were quick drying...easy to remove...very nice.

I had failed to noticed that the blue was gel.

OMFG!!!

And I was in such a hurry...rushing around to get ready...that I didn't notice for a long time that I was leaving blue splotches pretty much everywhere in the bathroom...and my newly painted nails were a mess.

Then I saw the blue splatters...and smudges...

To make a long story short...it looked like I had murdered a Smurf in the bathroom with my bare hands.

Stopping to get the polish remover...clean up the mess...then wash it all down the drain...now, it looked like I was disposing of the evidence of fore-mentioned Smurf killing.

...sigh...

Repainted the nails...made our brunch meeting...and reflected on the fact that fashion is highly over-rated.

 

My feral turning domesticated, Finnegan, is becoming more and more relaxed with me.

...at this point he will put his front paws and head in my lap...or across the threshold of the patio door...so half of him is domesticated...while his back half remains quite feral...

It's a PROCESS.

We're getting there.

And there was Football!

Sunday, John and I, watched The Browns and The Colts...then Kansas and The Chargers...then Miami and The Eagles...

 "Are you not entertained???"

The Colts Game was close...and good!

The Chiefs Game was not so close but very good...well...it would have been GREAT, but this

should have been the end of it.

But nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.

...seriously...why did she have to start dating a guy on MY team???

Now, football has become Football and The Taylor Swift Show.

Look, I LOVE politics.

But not during my football.

I keep a pretty close eye on the Ukraine and Israel/Palestine Wars.

But not during my football, okay???

So every time Kelce moves...or coughs...or whatever...they have to immediately pan to Tay-Tay for her response.

Or now her BFF (Brittany Mahomes) who has made up a handshake with her...which they showed over and over and over...until you threw up.

And don't even get me started about the Swifties...who have now taken over the running football chat commentary with names like Twinkles16 and Rain and the like.

Gushing like fangirls...because...well..they are.

Honey...can we just skip ahead to the Break-Up Album???

 

And the late night game with Miami and The Eagles.

Ruined by These Guys.

I get that you have to hire the handicap...but 10 penalties on Miami and ZERO on The Eagles????

Who ya gonna believe...us or your lying eyes?

The company and snacks were good, anyway.

Getting the new week started.

 Love,

Carla and Finn

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shall We Save Larry or Kill, Larry????

 

...excuse me for the obscure SNL skit reference...

It was the first thing that came to mind after this guy (Jim Jordan) lost his SOTH bid for the 3rd time...because his own party is voting against him...now by secret ballot they are voting to...well...maybe  vote him off the island.

Or at least get a viable candidate.

Face it Jim, they're just not THAT into you.

We'll see.

And the secret ballot vote????

The members that have voted openly against him have been getting harassed...berated...death threats on themselves, their children and their wives. By their own party.

How did we EVER get to this level of incivility????

Personally,  I hope they float a moderate GOP candidate that we can reach across the aisle and help elect...or 5 of them reach across the aisle and help us elect Jeffries.

Either way works for me...but we have got to get things moving.

Jordan, Gaetz, Boebert, MTG. and the rest of the merry chaos-makers currently are holding the House hostage.

Freedom Caucus my ass!

More as it comes...

Update:  Much like the fate of Larry...who was boiled and eaten on live TV...Jordan's secret vote did not go well at all and the GOP will be selecting a less extreme candidate on Monday.

Pass the drawn butter...

Virtual SA: Panama- Monkey Island

 

One of the local attractions in Panama is Monkey Island.

In the middle of a lake and only by boat.

You cannot set foot on the island...but it's okay...the monkeys are very used to tourists and join you in the boat for hand-outs of fresh fruit, bread, pretty much any food item.

Tours from 700 USD to as low as 90 USD are available...and there are locals with boats who will even undercut that price...so look for a deal.

Surprisingly, some even recognize canned Coke and will snatch one away from you...then sit and drink it out of arms reach.

 

Totally addicted.

Boat at Monkey Island

https://youtu.be/Oqrxd1rcVwE?si=KsiYrmexz1ha5fh2

Until next time...

Cinderella Saturday...A Very Peopley Week...and The End of The Bears

 

Alfresco Brunch

with Kayleb

Some of my Grands

Impromptu Chinese

with Ola

It has been a very peopley week!

K turned me on to 

XXX Root Beer

which is awesome!

Just watched the end of the 

eclipse

which was obscured by clouds, here...

but there was live feed

from out west

so it's all

good!

 

 

And today promises to be a 

Cinderella Day

cleaning

everything

(including me)

Grazer

won

The Fat Bear Contest

and now it is very quiet at the Falls...the cameras off for the season and the bears ready for hibernation...

In the rest of the world...the build-up between Palestine and Israel seems to have reached a head.

Face it...Israel has wanted to wipe Palestine off the map for a long long time...Hamas just gave them a viable excuse.

If you don't believe me...well...you just haven't been paying attention for decades.

Anyway...the weapons and tank build-up is terrible...the evacuations are only going to save a small percent...and before it is over I expect to see Gaza totally demolished.

I feel bad for both the Israelis and Palestinians who were just people trying to just go about the business of living their lives. 

sigh

Which brings us to the US House of Congress.

Dear God what a cluster-fuck.

Seriously.

WTH???

Gaetz removes McCarthy for the unforgivable sin of reaching across the aisle to prevent the government from shutting down...

Then, Scalise and Jordan both toss their hats in the ring for Speaker.

Then, The Usual Clownshow of Boebert...MTG...Gaetz...and assorted other Republicans decide that Steve "I identify with Duke of the KKK" Scalise isn't

(...and I couldn't make this up...)

EXTREME enough!

(...what??? Was Pol Pot busy???)

and Jordan doesn't have near the votes

...thankfully...

So here we are...10 days out...and STILL no Speaker of the House.

Jefferies has 212 votes...I kind of hope 5 moderate Republicans cross over and he ends up with the Speakership.

Not only could we get back to getting shit done...but it would be delicious irony for Gaetz and his band of merry chaos-makers.

Now to get started on the house...so tomorrow can be all about football and food!

Ya Gotta Have A Plan.

Love,

Carla and Finn

 

Bears...Bears...Bears

 

Termination Dust....the first real snowfall on the mountain...signifying the end of autumn.

Things are looking much more bear...er...bare.

The last of the fisher-bears getting the final fish or scraps before hibernation.

A bit worried about Amelia (#708) and her triplets....they still look so thin. Comparatively, of course.

The Fat Bear Contest is in full swing, now...and so many have been eliminated!

Even 747 didn't make the cut...being Grazered in the second or third round.

This season has been rough on the new cubs and we have lost 10 of the 17 born this year.

901's blonde cub now found attacked and dead. Out of her triplets she has one left. The good new is that both she (and it) appear fat, healthy and ready for hibernation.

We will know for sure tomorrow...but it looks like the contest will come down to Chunk and Grazer.

Both are ginormous this year.

Will come back and post the winner, here.

Here it is..the 10th...and we are down to 

Will check back in tonight...and let you know who wins!!!!

And 128 Grazer has WON!!!

"I'm not FAT....I'm curvy...:

A Cupful of Weekend!!!

 

Good Morning, from me and Finnegan!

Slowly switching everything over to Fall...complicated by the fact it is dropping into the 30's-50's this week.

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!

 Making real progress with Finn, especially after finding out his favorite stuff in  the whole world is rotisserie chicken!

Me (last week): Don't expect me to get you rotisserie chicken every week.

Also Me (this week):  Hey  guy....guess who just bought you another rotisserie chicken???

I know...I'm such a push-over.

He has been supervising my gardening attempts...and loves the straw!

Broke about half of one of the mini-bales into Tucker's old house, which he has taken over, and promptly dug out a nest for himself.

Good for those extra cold days.

Fat Bear Week started Monday...

I've voted.

The system is safeguarded so you cannot vote multiple times...and still there have been over 100,000 votes already!

Many have already been eliminated.

Grazer, 747, Holly, Chunk, Walker and 856 are still in the running.

Eliminations continue through Monday, and the winner will be announced Tuesday.

My guess is that Chunk (#32) or Grazer (#128) will win....both are huge this year.

In local news, Momo the monkey escaped and led police and animal officials on a merry chase through the Eastside of Indy. He has been caught and returned to his owner.

 Momo

In National News, Dick Butkus (former LB for the Chicago Bears) has died.

I actually was privileged to meet the man when my late husband worked at United Airlines.

To say he was HUGE is an  understatement.

His hand was big enough to facepalm your entire head...and he made my 6'6" husband look small in comparison, okay?

 In political news, Kevin McCarthy has been ousted by his own party.

"I never thought the leopards would eat MY face."

and the House GOP is in disarray.

I think Fetterman said it best

And the former guy...who has so many active indictments going on...well it is hard to keep track of...made us laugh this week when he filed a motion to dismiss stating (I am not making this up) Executive Privilege.

Of course it was denied.

...slowly shaking my head...

The Movie of the Week:

A 2008 film that I somehow missed back-in-the day...with three of my favorite leading ladies...and one amazing car.

A film about death...dying..survival and truly living seen through the eyes of three friends-for-life.

Uplifting, inspirational and funny.

A nice feel good film!

Highly Recommended. 

This Week's Book:

Well researched, an MD's take on the things that all Centenarians have in common. 

Dry in spots...overly long...like asking someone what time they have and they tell you how a wristwatch is made.

The entire book could be distilled into one page.

How to live to 100 and Beyond.

Nutrition

Exercise

Sleep

Emotional Attitude

 

Yeah...that's it.

...but you couldn't very well charged $42. a head for that, could you???

Good advice...but could have been a better book.

Getting ready for a hot bubble bath and a nice nap.

Football tomorrow...Colts at 1 PM and Kansas after 4.

We extended JT's contract and he will be playing!

More later...

 Football...again??? 

                   -Finnegan and Gadget

UPDATE:

We won....we won...we won!!!!!

 

 

Virtual SA: The Panama Canal

PANAMA:  So...let me get this straight...you want to dig a ditch or trench straight across the country?

MARKETING: We prefer the term Canal...it polled better.

FRANCE: Mais oui...it would expedite shipping...and we would eventually make the Americans pay for it.

TOURISM DEPT: We could offer up tours to offset costs.

PANAMA: Okay...I guess.

How I see this being pitched, anyway.

51 miles long it connects the Atlantic with the Pacific Ocean.

Completed in 1914.

It is estimated that over 333 million ships have now used this passage.

The first ship to travel the canal.

The SS Ancon

 

Building The Panama Canal

https://youtu.be/zCx7_VzR1Ho?si=_zGlX3xeX1tQJcl6

And they did get their tourism!

Cruising the Panama Canal

https://youtu.be/MpR-FH3Uc3s?si=4b9PvuHI_sWviqVO

 

 

An October Cup...

 

Removing the feeder today...my hummers are gone.

And just in the nick of time.

 By the end of the week, the high is only suppose to reach the mid-50's.

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

has arrived!

With all its finery.

The peach candles now replaced by Apple Fritter scent.  Yesterday, I fixed the first kettle of soup beans with butter and onions. Today is reserved for redecorating the house and patio.

The new term for all of this is Dopamine Decorating.

Because it makes you feel good, I suppose.

I did seasonal switch-ups long before it was trendy....and yes...it does make you feel wonderful.

Brooks Falls is already well into Fall...and Dumpling Mountain is topped with snow.

In fact...poor Otis (480) was caught on camera the other morning when  a heavy rain turned into snow...it didn't last...or stop him from fishing.

I did get a good laugh from the bear-people the other day.

Remember when I casually mentioned that if the government shut down...the Fat Bear Week would be postponed???

Well...THAT wouldn't do.

No...not at all.

And suddenly there were a great number of the bear-folk calling their respective Congressmen/women.

I kid you not.

Disruption of our government...pay stopped...programs cut/defunded...apparently they were okay with all of that.

But don't mess with Fat Bear Week.

Anyway, they've kicked the can down  the road another 45 days and FBW appears to be saved...lol!

In bear news...26 sadly lost her remaining cub...and a late but new arrival for me (#22) PJ

A beautiful chocolate colored male who got his nickname by intentionally going out on the lip of the falls and jumping into the far pool repeatedly.

It is also how he received his identifying characteristics of twin scars across his snout..compliments of Grazer (128)...and Walker (151) who did not find his diving act at all entertaining.

He is quiet...kind of goofy...and a loner.

The ball games were good yesterday. Kansas won theirs...and although the Colts didn't- Anthony Richardson had a 4th quarter comeback worthy of Tom Brady.

And yes...I am over the whole spectacle the media is making of Kelce and Swift...why do you ask???

Angie has been working a lot and George (the wisteria) has been...well...trying to eat the house.

She sent me this.
 

Pruning is in order...but he should look lovely next Spring, hon.

And John's neighbor/friend, Chris, has started his over-the-top Halloween Decorations, already.

 

It is really amazing!

Off to play in the plants!!!!

 

"I'll supervise, Mom..."

                                      -Finnegan